The Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC) is a non-profit organization whose primary mandate is to further develop the recognition and prosperity of the contemporary art market in Canada. Today, AGAC regroups galleries in Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. The association actively contributes to the dissemination and promotion of Canadian artists via exhibitions and other major events organized in Québec, Canada and internationally. Beyond defending the moral and economical interests of its members through a rigorous code of ethics, the association also fosters the public’s interest in visual arts and encourages the emergence of new contemporary art collectors.

History

Founded in 1985, AGAC has organized innovative activities for over 30 years with the aim of developing the art market and fostering exchanges between art enthusiasts, collectors, professionals in the field, as well as the general public. Some of the innovative projects launched in the last two decades include Le Salon du printemps, Rallye des galeries, Gala des arts visuels and Collectioner l’art, a guide envisioned specifically for new collectors. Throughout the years, these multiple initiatives have benefited AGAC in its outreach to galleries beyond Quebec, in cities such as Toronto, Lyon, Shanghai and New York.

In 2007, the first edition of Papier Art Fair at Westmount Square marked an important milestone for the Association. Due to its considerable success and popularity, Papier became an instant flagship project. Moreover, it allowed AGAC to obtain a growing recognition on a local and national level. For the past few years, this enthusiasm has largely increased as AGAC continues to experience a significant increase in its members beyond Quebec.

Today, the Association strives to be a proactive structure that complements and reacts to its member’s needs and concerns. AGAC is dedicated to contemporary art and to the vitality of the art market. Having developed an expertise in the organization of fairs, it is with this intention that AGAC created its most recent project, Feature Contemporary Art Fair. Resulting from a collective effort, Feature is organized by galleries, for galleries. In this mindset, AGAC intends to provide a distinctive approach on the overall art fair experience.